Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised President Donald Trump’s announcement of Operation Epic Fury on Newsmax’s “Saturday Report,” calling it a "powerful" display of leadership at what he described as a historic moment.
"Couldn’t be more powerful, more leadership than the statement made by President Trump," Olmert said. "He said it all."
Olmert said Trump’s decision to launch the operation was "very explicit, powerful, forceful," and expressed hope that "the nuclear capacity of Iran will be completely obliterated."
"This has been the focus of Israeli policies for more than 20 years now," Olmert said, noting that curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions had also been central to Trump’s first term. "Now he took out this action, and I hope it will be successful and it will last until it is done."
While encouraged, Olmert cautioned against expecting immediate regime collapse in Tehran.
"Let’s not forget that Iran is over 90 million people. It’s an enormously powerful nation with a tradition that they have never been taken over by anyone," he said. "We can’t expect a short blast of attacks and that everything will collapse."
He warned the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps remains "loyal" and "very radical," adding, "I don’t expect any sharp deterioration in the effective control of the Revolutionary Guard inside Iran" in the immediate term.
Still, Olmert said Trump’s remarks showed “leadership, determination and a broad-minded approach, which is very encouraging.”
He stressed that success would require sustained resolve. "It’s going to take some time. It’s not going to end in a day or two," Olmert said. "We have to be ready for this lengthy and complex and sensitive operation."
Olmert added that if the effort "will carry on" and U.S. leadership maintains "perseverance against the pressures which may come from different parts of the world," the operation could reshape the region.
At this "pivotal moment," Olmert said, Trump’s statement stood out as a defining show of resolve as the campaign begins.
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